I took this picture just outside our front door early this morning!

Click on Image to Enlarge!

Good Morning! You know<>I have come to the conclusion that the universe is mighty big, no doubt about it, but if you ask me, the real marvels are in those little moments we let slip by, right under our noses.

Looking outside, getting out of bed this morning with the sun slowly climbing in the sky, it sure was a sight to see. Especially with it shinning through the trees. I have to say that Mother Nature is one fine artist. Makes me think about my wife and the way she can capture moments like that.

She’s a real artist, my wife<>none of this smudge-it-and-call-it-art stuff. She sees things most people miss. Not only that, but she doesn’t just paint what’s there; she paints what it feels like. She’ll catch a sunrise through the trees, the way a shadow sits, how the colors change, all of it. Some folks look and see just a tree; she looks and finds a story.

I watch her paint sometimes, and I can’t help but think she and Mother Nature are cut from the same cloth. They both know how to show the beauty that’s right in front of us<>if we’re paying attention, that is. She’s got a way of catching what makes a simple moment feel like something worth hanging onto.

So, yeah, it was just another morning here in the north. But between her and that sunrise, I feel pretty damn lucky to be here to see it.

Highway 522 has been pretty busy these days, as I’ve mentioned before. It’s mostly hunters moving into the area, looking for places to hunt. I used to hunt myself, but I can’t see myself sitting out in the cold bush anymore. Honestly, I’ve lost the rhythm for it<>if you know what I mean.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I get that putting meat in the freezer for winter is something a lot of folks need to do, and I can respect that. But for me? Well, let’s just say those days are behind me. The older I get, the more I appreciate what’s around me and prefer to let it be.

On another note, yesterday I spent the day in my woodworking shop. I figured it was time for a cleanup, since I hadn’t been putting things back where they belong over the past month.; You could say that things were all over the place, and that’s what happens when you’re a man of many talents and like to fix things yourself.

I also managed to fix up my old rototiller after ordering some makeshift parts on Amazon. They delivered right to my door, which is pretty nice when you live out here in the middle of nowhere. With a bit of ingenuity, I got it running and tilled up our vegetable garden. That’ll sure be nice come spring, especially with all the leaves I worked into the soil. I have to say, there’s nothing better than the smell, feel, and look of fresh-tilled soil. Let me tell you, it’s something special.

With that, I’m off for a bowl of shredded wheat for breakfast, thanks to my lovely wife. She’s also got a piece of toast ready with some fresh, good-tasting butter. Honestly, I could make a whole breakfast out of just toast and butter if I wanted to<>especially if it’s hot. There’s just something about it that hits the spot. It’s the kind of breakfast that makes you wonder<>why you ever complicated things in the first place!

You all have a great day, enjoy the sunshine/ while it lasts, as a red sky in the morning sailers take warning, and remember: “Every day’s a blank page<>make sure to fill it with something worthwhile.” GW

Good Morning! You know I’ve spent years thinkin’ and wondering, but I’ve come to realize <> some of the best things in life can’t be explained, just felt.

Looking out this morning, it’s one of those dark and gloomy days here in the north. It seems like we’ll get some rain off and on as the day rolls along. And, with the season starting to shift, we might just hear a rumble of thunder or catch a flash of lightning for good measure, <> but, it’s that time of year when you never quite know what the weather’s got in store for us. Expect the unexpected, as they say.

On another note, the past few days have kept me busy, wrapping up those last-minute jobs with winter just around the corner. This year, though, I’m happy to say I’ve just about got everything squared away. I even managed to gather up most of the leaves and spread them over the garden, tilling them in nicely. That soil’s going to be primed and ready come spring, let me tell ya.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing <> as my old rototiller decided to give me a bit of grief, but I’m in the middle of fixing it now. Truth told, she’s been with me for over 40 years, so I can’t complain much. Hell, at my age, I’ve got a few issues of my own, so I can’t expect more from her than I can from myself, now can I?

Highway 522’s been busy with hunters, or more like “wannabe hunters,” wandering around. Mix them in with the locals <> and it’s like watching a slow-motion race of trucks, ATVs, and trailers creeping along, everyone eyeing up the best spots. The locals, though, well, they aren’t in much of a rush, as simply put <> they know the best places to be are nowhere near all the fuss!

Today, as I mentioned, I’ve got my old rototiller to tinker with. And with the gloomy skies and cold creeping in, my old woodworking shop is looking more and more like the place to be. Won’t be long before I’ll be firing up the shop stove. But that’s okay, as after cleaning up the bush around the house, I’ve got enough wood to keep it toasty for the next three years. Goes to show ya, cleaning things up once in a while pays off. If nothing else, you find out what you’ve got that you didn’t even know was there!

With that I am off for my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me and will then see what the day has on her plate. One never really knows.

You all have a great day, and remember, folks! Most of the time, the best things in life <> are right outside your door. It’s the little moments/things that often bring the most joy, patently waiting for us to take notice. GW

?

A Glimpse of our property. Pretty nice!

Click on image to enlarge!!

Good Morning Folks! You know, If you stop to think about it, the world’s full of mysteries we’ll never fully understand. And maybe<>that’s exactly how it should be.

You know, for those who aren’t here with us in the North, you’re missing quite the day. The temperature? Perfect. The sun? Well, it’s showing off, doing what it was born to do. And those leaves <> honestly, they’re putting on a performance so good, even the finest artists would pack up their easels and call it a day. My wife and I often sit back on days like this and think we’re pretty lucky to have what we have. Hardly any people around, meaning plenty of space to stretch the ol’ elbows, and the air? Let’s just say it’s the kind that makes your lungs think they’ve gone on vacation.

Highway 522 was buzzing yesterday with hunters pouring into the area. Truth be told, I haven’t seen so many in years. Maybe there are a lot of folks out there needing to fill the freezer, or<> maybe they’re just craving a taste of what Mother Nature’s been offering up lately. Meanwhile, the locals are out and about, taking in the action, as they always do <> whether they’re watching what’s happening, or what’s already been done. In other words, just another day in small-town living, where sometimes the biggest excitement is seeing what your neighbors are up to.

On another note, <> yesterday, I finally got around to cleaning up the bush closest to our home. Oh, there’s still a wee bit left to tackle, but for now, it’s looking mighty fine. It’s funny how a task that’s lingered in my mind for years can finally get done <> and without the universe falling apart! Along the way, I also split and stacked some of those old logs I had lying around. All in all, a day well spent.

Today’s plan? I’m tilling up our vegetable gardens and will then get to planting a row of garlic for next year, <> might as well make the most of this fine weather while it lasts. Nothing worse than wasting a good day when Mother Nature’s handing them out for free.

With that, I am off for some pancakes that my lovely wife is making for me <> along with a cup of hot cocoa, which will give me the energy that is needed to get me through the morning. The old saying that breakfast is the main meal of the day <> still holds true with me.

You all have a great day, folks and don’t forget to take a moment today, to appreciate the little things <>like the way the sun hits the leaves on the trees. While they last that is! GW